1 Month

1 month left!!

I can’t believe it! It seems like only yesterday that I was starting my application for my exchange to Japan with AFS, even though it’s been a year… XD

So since I wasn’t able to find a job, I’ve been working with my mom. It’s great being able to spend time with her, and whatever I earn goes towards Japan ☺. I really appreciate the support (financial and otherwise) I have gotten from my parents, the rest of my family and my friends. I think I will have enough spending money for Japan, but will be broke coming home/for university…but it’s a year away so why worry… >.<

I’ve been emailing my host family, and have found out more about my school. I’m going to be in grade 11 (yay!) along with my host sister. We will be biking to school, which takes about 30 mins. It’s been forever since I rode a bike, so hopefully I don’t crash… On rainy days – about a third of the year (I love rain, so no probs ^^) – I will take the bus. I guess I will be buying my uniform there, which kinda sucks cause they are really expensive, but also kinda good cause then I may get to keep it…Although I have no idea when I would wear it again.

I host family seems really nice and I can't wait to meet them. I am also really excited for orientation (first 3 days I’m in Japan) because I will get to meet all the other awesome exchangers who I’ve met on the AFS Japan Facebook group. I still have quite a lot to do before then, including studying Japanese. I really want to improve, but it’s hard learning by yourself :S

Lately, I’ve become really obsessed with this one band, SuG. I love their music and their style – so colourful~♥. As you can probably tell from my blog, I love colour XD. My fave songs are in the music player in the left side bar <--.

Btw - I’m almost done the layout thing for this blog… just a little bit more tweaking and a header.

Freedom and Family Info

I’M FREE!~
I finished high school (at least in Canada) about a week ago. It’s such a huge relief off my shoulders XD. I think I did pretty good on all my finals, except maybe math >.< Hopefully I will find out my marks before I leave.

(This turned into a pretty long post…)

50 days left! I can't believe it. Under 2 months left now…Time is gonna go by so fast! The fact that I’m leaving yet for an entire year doesn’t feel like a reality yet…

I recently got a package with AFS about my host family! They seem like a really fun family from the photos they sent. I have also emailed my host sister ^-^. She seems really sweet. From her email, I found out that she is going to the USA for a year with AFS, and would leave in august. That means that she would only be with me for half of my exchange, which kinda sucks, but I’m excited for her. She said that her English isn't very good, so we’re kinda in the same boat (her English, my Japanese). We can help each other learn ^^. None of my other host family speaks English, which shall be interesting trying to communicate O.o… I’m sure there will be lots charades in the beginning XD.

They own a motorcycle shop! That came as quite a shock (but in a good way). My host dad seems to really like them. My host mom also helps with the motorcycle shop and likes hula dancing. ~(^-^~) <--Hula dancer XD. My host sister likes break dancing, which I think is really cool (although I am too uncoordinated to do it XP). And my host brother likes basketball. I don’t seem to have anything in common with them, so I’m not sure why they picked me, but I don’t care cause I’m quite happy with my placement!


金沢 - Kanazawa literally means Marsh of Gold. They are famous for making gold leaf. I think they are the only other city that have geisha besides Kyoto.

They live about a ten-minute walk from 兼六園 - Kenrokuen, one of the most famous gardens in Japan. It looks sooo pretty! I will be getting to Japan around the time for 花見 – hanami/cherry blossom viewing, so we would go there, which would be awesome! Their house is also about a 30 min. drive away from Japan Sea!
Click HERE for more pics and info about Kanazawa.

I must say, I was a little disappointed that I was so far away from Tokyo, but the more I learn about Kanazawa, the more I love my placement. My host family seems awesome, and since my area is less tourist-y, my Japanese will be forced to improve faster/better cause there will be less people who speak English.

I still don’t know much about my school other than the classes and clubs offered. They offer Korean!! I really hope I can take it, tho I don't know how much I’ll learn taking a foreign language in a foreign language ^~^’ .I would like to know what the uniforms look like (my host sister says they’re cute ^^). I don’t know what grade I’m in either. I know I won’t be in grade 12, cause they will be to busy studying for uni. entrance exams. I’m hoping I’ll be in grade 11. Grade 10 seems too young, since I will be turning 18 in June. Grade 11 would mean 16/17 year old ppl, which I think I would get along better with since they are closer to my age. People told me I could pass for 16 (I guess I look young). My host sister will be in grade 11, so they might put me in her class, or at least her grade.

I have also been fiddling with the layout of my blog. I haven’t been happy with the past 2 I’ve had…not colourful enough I think :p. I should (hopefully) have it finished soon…